The Union Against Hunger calls on all people in South Africa to join activities tomorrow, June 16th, that commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising. We will be joining tomorrow’s 1976@50 march in Soweto and rededicate ourselves to people’s dignity, equality and to peace and non-violence in resolving South Africa’s crises. We believe that widespread hunger lies at the heart of much of the anxiety and fragility in our country. Addressing hunger is a strategy for peace, tolerance and social justice.
On the eve of June 16 the Union Against Hunger looks back on its recent campaign around World Hunger Day, 28 May 2026, with the conviction that the activities we organized that week contributed to raising awareness about the scale of hunger and the crisis it represents in terms of inequality and indignity.
In particular, we targeted the Department of Agriculture, calling on it to publish a draft National Food and Nutrition Security Plan. We gave them until June 16th to reply and expect their response today.
We also shone a bright light on the human rights violations of giant retailer Shoprite Checkers, where we held pickets at more than 20 stores countrywide demanding lower prices on essential foodstuffs. Shoprite seems to think it is accountable only to shareholders and not to its millions of poverty-stricken consumers. Should they fail to respond to us again, we will intensify and expand our protests and hold pickets and a day of action at at least 200 stores within a month.
In the meantime, linked to June 16 and the crisis of hunger, youth unemployment and food affordability confronting young people both in and out of school, the Union Against Hunger is launching a social media campaign drawing attention to inequalities caused by those who profiteer from South Africa’s food system.
In particular, we will highlight the salaries of Chief Executives of major food retailers. We contrast these with the low wages paid to ordinary employees, while exposing how South Africa’s food system continues to prioritise profits and executive remuneration over the realisation of the constitutional right to sufficient food and basic nutrition.
Finally, the Union Against Hunger is beginning our preparations for the resumed hearings into South Africa’s food system being conducted by the South African Human Rights Commission. These hearings will take place from 6-10 July 2026 in Johannesburg. They will be particularly significant as major food retailers and food producers, including Shoprite, have been subpoenaed to answer questions before the Commission.
We are calling on supporters of the Union Against Hunger to attend the hearings and to participate in ongoing actions and protests against profiteering and persistently high food prices within the food retail industry.
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